Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2014 - 57

CURRENTS

photo-Eric Levis

to what is plaguing the river. The PFBC has also been
a leading voice in the call for a formal impairment
designation of the river as part of Pennsylvania's
Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment
Report.
* Approved a grant of up to $25,500 to the Ralph W. Abele
Conservation Scholarship Fund to research and produce
a history publication about PFBC to coincide with PFBC's
upcoming 150th anniversary in 2016.
* Authorized staff to acquire flowage easements from
three property owners at Colyer Lake in Potter
Township, Centre County, as part of PFBC's plan to
rebuild the lake's dam.
* Authorized staff to purchase for $20,000 a property
easement of approximately 1,230 linear feet on both
sides of Fourmile Creek in the Borough of Wesleyville,
Erie County. The creek provides significant steelhead
fishing opportunities in the area. The easement will
include the stream corridor and will extend at least
35 feet back from the top of the bank. In addition, the
Lake Erie Regions Conservancy agreed to grant PFBC
easements for parking and a footpath to provide access
to Fourmile Creek.
* Finalized regulations, which clarify that paddleboards are
vessels and must have appropriate safety equipment on
board, including a Coast Guard approved wearable life
jacket for each person and a sound-producing device. The
change goes into effect on January 1, 2015.
* Approved a reduction in the slow, no-wake zone near
the Shikellamy State Park boat launch on the south
side of Packer's Island on the Susquehanna River,
Northumberland County. The no-wake zone currently

extends one-third mile (1,742 feet) upstream from the state
park boat launch. The change designates the no-wake zone as
250 feet downriver of the south side boat launch and upriver
to 200 feet above the Route 147 Bridge, an overall reduction of
about 450 feet. The change goes into effect on January 1, 2015.
* Approved a change to the stocking policy for Class A wild
trout streams, which would permit stocking on these waters
under rare circumstances, and only after the executive director
requests and receives approval from the board. Currently,
stocking is prohibited on all Class A waters, which represent
the best of the naturally reproducing trout fisheries.
* Preliminarily approved a plan, which allows anglers to harvest
trout under inland water regulations in Lake Perez, Huntingdon
County, but limits them to catch and release regulations on
all other species while the PFBC rebuilds the lake's fishery.
The lake, owned by the Pennsylvania State University, is
being refilled and the fishery reestablished after the lake's
dam was rebuilt this summer. The proposal will be open for
public comment, and if the board provides final approval at a
subsequent meeting, the special regulations will go into effect
immediately and remain in effect until June 16, 2018.
* Added eight waters to the list of wild trout streams and
adjusted the section limits of two waters. The list can be found
at www.fishandboat.com.
* Added one stream section in Somerset County to the list of
Class A wild trout streams. The list can be found at
www.fishandboat.com.
* Approved the publication of a notice of proposed
rulemaking to remove the Bluebreast Darter, Gilt Darter,
Spotted Darter and Tippecanoe Darter from the state's list
of threatened species.
The meeting schedule and full agenda for the meeting can be
found on PFBC's website at www.fishandboat.com/minutes.htm.

Commission Meeting Award
During the September 30 Commission meeting, the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat
Commission (PFBC) recognized Dale Ortmann for his efforts in repairing and
providing 324 fishing rods and reels to others since 2013. The Commission is
very appreciative of his accomplishments, which have helped others experience
the start of a life-long enjoyment of fishing in Pennsylvania. Pictured are (left to
right) Board President Norman R. Gavlick; Dale Ortmann; and PFBC Executive
Director John A. Arway.

Commonwealth waters have always provided outstanding fishing
opportunities for a variety of popular fish species. Pennsylvania's Best
Fishing Waters is a program established by PFBC, using the expertise
and knowledge of its fisheries biologists, to highlight statewide
locations for different categories of fish to assist anglers in knowing
the prime fishing hotspots. Confirmed by survey catch rates and the
availability of public access, the waters offered as a resource by the
Commission are intended to increase anglers' success and provide
convenient access to this information. You deserve the best!
PFBC website: www.fishandboat.com

www.PaBestFishing.com

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * November/December 2014

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http://www.fishandboat.com http://www.fishandboat.com http://www.fishandboat.com/minutes.htm http://www.PaBestFishing.com http://www.fishandboat.com
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2014

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